Jan 19, 2020 at 5:57 pm

Prince Harry Gives a Speech About His Royal Exit, Talks of 'Great Sadness'

Prince Harry is speaking out for the first time since it was announced that he and wife Meghan Markle will be giving up their royal titles as part of their exit from the royal family.

The 35-year-old spoke to supporters at a dinner for his charity Sentebale on Sunday evening (January 19) at The Ivy Chelsea Garden in London, England.

Harry spoke extensively about his exit from the royal family to start the speech. Details were finalized over the weekend and announced in a statement by Queen Elizabeth.

“Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the past few weeks. So I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share, not as a duke or prince but as Harry, the same person that many of you have perhaps watched grow up over the last 35 years but now with a clearer perspective,” Harry began his speech.

“The U.K. is my home and a place that I love. That will never change. I’ve grown up feeling supported by so many of you and I’ve watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I’d hoped for all my life,” he added. “Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched. Hooray.”

Click inside to read the rest of the speech and to watch video…

“I also know that you’ve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do. And she does. And she’s the same woman I fell in love with. We both do everything we can to fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride,” Harry told the attendees.

“Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited. We were hopeful and we were here to serve. For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this. The decision I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly,” Harry said. “It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges and I know I haven’t always gotten it right but as far as this goes there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is, we’re not walking away.”

Watch the full speech below: